can anyone give a basic short explanation of the Arab-Israel conflict?

Answer 1

Sure -- there are two basic threads:

1. religious -- simmering from the Jews' rejection of Mohammed as a new prophet in 638 CE. This mirrors the Christian hatred of Jews as we rejected Jesus (and, some would say, killed him). This accounts for violence against Jews which dates back all the way to 638. The fact that jews and Christians are marginalized as dhimmi in Muslim countries is a local consequence of this.

2. political -- with the young Turks revolt in 1908, regional Arabs started to move in a ntionalist direction. This follows the Zionist movement which began in the 1860's -- Jews who had been living in the region continuously coupled with European and other Jews convened to work towards a political entity. Immigration contiues with immigrants buying land at high prices and being welcomed by many Arabs. Violence against local Jews began as a political statement -- and offshoot of simmering religious feelings. The 1917 white paper indicating a future Jewish homeland led to an attempt at a peace treaty with local Arabs in 1919 which was rejected by them and which led to more violence. Violence continues against Jews (the most notorious attack being the 1929 Hebron massacre, but it by no means not the only). When the state is declared by partition and the UN vote in 1947/48, Arab nations around the area immediately attack. In the war many Arabs were encouraged to leave their land to make way for the surely victorious Arab military, some ran, and some, yes, some were driven out by the Israeli military.

At the same time, an equivalent amount of Jews were expelled by Arab countries (there are over 20 of them...). Israel absorbed the Jews, Arab states rejected the Arabs so refugee camps were set up. More wars and attacks followed -- and even when Jordan and Egypt controlled the West Bank and Gaa, no "Palestinean State" was declared; only violence against Israel was the constant.

There's more, but this is a start.

Answer 2

The conflict originated in pre-Egyptian times when the ancestors of both modern groups enslaved each other, and continued through the generations. This violence is normal for the groups, it is now part of every aspect of their daily lives. Every ounce of their energy is focused on having more children and raising them to fear and hate the other for the purpose of continuing the war.

I think the world needs to proclaim this geographical area as the world's war zone and those who choose to kill another must move there. We will always have people who choose to fear and hate others, so why not give them the place on earth to do so and let the rest of us have the places on earth to do as we choose.

Answer 3

evil vs. evil

The muslims deny the jews the right to their own country. The jews use the muslims' terrorist attacks as an excuse to attack legitimate arab muslim government and infrastructure facilities. In conclusion: kill'em both.

Answer 4

Read Talmud!

Answer 5

This has been going on for so long, I don't think they even know why.